Co-op Members See Solar As Way Of The Future ATTENTION MEMBERS! Beaus we woud li

their age fool you. The Haskell couple doesn&#39;t let tradition get in the way of progress when it comes to their electric service.

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When ECE announced its community solar project— one of the first co-op projects of its kind in Oklahoma— the Higginbotham&#39;s wasted no time signing up. &#34;It came out in the paper that they were selling solar panels and right then I said, &#34;I&#39;m buying a couple,&#39;&#34; Karen recalls.

On March 4, the Higginbotham&#39;s became ECE&#39;s first solar panel subscribers. Karen said her travels around the U.S. showed her that other regions were turning to solar

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xprse ke to gi ve yo e fis p tu Subscriptions will be on a first come, first served basis.

aren and Leroy Higginbotham joined East Central Electric (ECE) in 1966, but don&#39;t let

What is ECE Community Solar? ECE Community Solar allows members, regardless of income level, geographic location, or home design or home ownership – to access clean, solar energy. Members subscribe to a portion of the output of the kilowatt hours generated from a centrally located photovoltaic system.

How does it work? Solar panels are installed south of ECE Headquarters in Okmulgee, along Highway 75. Members subscribe to a share (panel) or multiple shares of the system production. Subscription price is multiplied by the number of shares (panels) each member chooses. Members are then credited on their monthly bills based on their portion of the system production. Participants do not own any of the panels or infrastructure.

What are the benefits? Nothing is installed on your home or property. You have nothing to maintain. You have the opportunity to directly invest in a renewable energy project and receive credit from it on your monthly bill (see sample enclosed).

What happens if I move? If you move your electric service to a different location within ECE’s service territory, your credit can be transferred to your new location. If you leave the area, you may elect to transfer or assign the credit to another member, or ECE will return your subscription cost to you on a declining basis of 4%.

Am I eligible for tax credits if I participate? No. Tax credits are only available to OWNERS of solar panel systems. ECE members are not eligible because they SUBSCRIBE to ECE Community Solar.

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power and she thought it was a great idea. &#34;I think it&#39;s the way of the future,&#34; she said. &#34;And it&#39;s a good investment.&#34;

Once up and running, the 950 panels in ECE&#39;s solar array will provide a low cost, renewable source of electricity for the co-op during peak usage periods. It will also reduce ECE&#39;s use of more expensive power generated at power plants.

As electricity costs climb, measures such as community solar could mean more affordable rates for co-op members.

This notion appealed to the Higginbothams. &#34;This is a way to help the co-op and we wanted to do it ,&#34; she said.

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&#34;We&#39;re looking forward to seeing how this will affect our electric bill. We might buy some more!

—KAREN HIGGINBOTHAM, HASKELL

ECE solar subscribers will receive a small credit on their monthly electric bill, which will increase as the cost of wholesale power goes up.

&#34;We&#39;re looking forward to seeing how this will affect our electric bill,&#34; she said. &#34;We might buy some more.&#34;